- Bunker Chunks (aka menhaden or pogy)
- Live Bunker (for huge blues)
- Cut Mullet.
- Live Finger Mullet.
- Mackerel.
- Squid.
- Live Shrimp.
What is the
best time
to catch bluefish?
The best time of day to catch bluefish is from late evening through about 2 o’clock in the morning under most moon phases The best season is typically mid-to-late summer through early fall.
What is the best way to fish for bluefish?
Catch bluefish by trolling, or casting artificial lures Cut baits are good for catching bluefish. On the ocean beaches people surf fish for bluefish in the fall. Bluefish have been known to strike at anything and anglers often use wire leaders to prevent the
sharp teeth
of the bluefish from cutting their lines.
Is bluefish good eating?
Bluefish is best eaten as fresh as possible, as it tends to degrade over time and doesn’t keep or freeze well It has a delicate flavor but can be more “fishy” than other types of seafood. Marinate or cook in acidic liquids to minimize fishiness. Bluefish is soft, and is best grilled, baked, broiled, or smoked.
How do you hook a bluefish?
A finger mullet on a rig with a float and wire leader is the go-to choice for bluefish; however, full bunker or any fish for that matter will work too. Just make sure to cut them into chunks less than 2
inches thick
so when the bluefish takes a bite it takes the hook too.
Can bluefish bite through braid?
Braided lines are so sensitive that at times you’ll swear you can “feel” a bluefish just looking at the bait They are also extremely soft and supple and enhance the presentation of a bait as it floats or sinks in a chum slick or as a live bait works its magic in the depths.
How big can
blue fish
get?
Bluefish are usually 20-25 inches long, but can get up to 42 inches in length They are blue or blue-green along their back, fading to silver or white along their sides and belly. Bluefish have two dorsal fins, with the second far larger than the first. They also have forked tails and very sharp teeth.
Can you catch bluefish at night?
Bluefish seem to gravitate to the 80- to 100-foot depths during the nighttime hours, though they can really be found at any depth where there is an underwater ledge Once the captain marks the bait and sets up a chum slick and the bite gets going, it rarely slows down.
What do bluefish like eating?
They feed voraciously on their prey, eating almost anything they can catch and swallow Bluefish have razor-sharp teeth and shearing jaws that allow them to ingest large parts, increasing the maximum size of the prey they can eat. They eat squid and fish, particularly menhaden and smaller fish such as silversides.
What do bluefish bite on?
Bluefish Fishing Tips Anglers use a variety of plugs, sand eel type jigs, squid or mackerel like lures when casting or trolling. Pogies (bunker), mackerel or eels are the preferred live baits.
What size bluefish should I eat?
The best eating size is ½-to -pound fish , but larger fish are great to smoke and make an awesome fish dip. Most of the bluefish caught in the surf in the summer are caught on bait – fresh mullet or menhaden are the two top choices of bluefish natural bait.
Is Blue fish poisonous?
This outbreak emphasizes that scombroid-type poisoning (1) can be caused by nonscombroid fish such as bluefish , (2) is probably more common than currently recognized, and (3) may become even more widespread as fish become a larger part of our diet.
What
water temperature
do bluefish like?
As you can see, each fish species prefers a different water temperature. Bluefish, for example, are more comfortable between 66 °F and 73 °F , but you can also spot them in colder or warmer waters. The striped bass is happy within the range of 55-65 °F but can also be found between 50 to 75 ° F.
Is bluefish high in mercury?
Bluefish. Bluefish are fun to catch, will hit pretty much anything you drag through the water, and can really rip some line out on light tackle. But they are quite high in mercury levels , so eating bluefish in moderation is highly advised.
Can you freeze Blue fish?
“Bluefish is one of those fish like herring or mackerel that goes off in a heartbeat,” he explained. “ It does not freeze well If you have ever had frozen bluefish, it turns to mush, and it’s not even very good for fishcakes.” Shaw also recommends trying bluefish at reputable restaurants first, if in doubt.
Can you chum for bluefish?
Chumming is one of the simplest and most enjoyable ways to fish for bluefish because you can employ a wide variety of tackle options that will give you the opportunity to experience the fighting prowess of these gamesters.
What’s the biggest bluefish ever caught?
Recreational fisheries The IGFA All Tackle World Record for bluefish stands at 31 lb 12oz (14.4 kg) landed by James Hussey near Hatteras, North Carolina.
What does bluefish taste like?
The taste of bluefish is as “fishy” as you can get Bluefish has a strong flavor with edible skin. The meat is moist so they need to be cooked or eaten fresh from the ocean or else they tend to go bad fairly quickly. Bluefish are generally eaten raw, baked, poached, or smoked.
Is bluefish good to smoke?
Smoke ’em if you got ’em If you’re going to invest the time, you might as well make up a big batch and fill up the racks. Oily fish are ideal for smoking , and my favorites include bluefish, mackerel, bonito, rainbow trout and salmon.
How do you make chum for bluefish?
Any self-respecting bluefish swimming by should follow the chum line to the back of your boat, where it will find larger pieces of bait to eat These larger pieces of bait should be on hooks snelled with 10 to 12 inches of steel line. Bluefish teeth can cut through most monofilament line.
What are the four fish that should never be eaten?
Making the “do not eat” list are King Mackerel, Shark, Swordfish and Tilefish All fish advisories due to increased mercury levels should be taken seriously. This is especially important for vulnerable populations such as young children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and older adults.
Can I eat bluefish raw?
In the past few years I have started eating bluefish raw (it’s amazing!); all you need is some good olive oil and a little bit of salt You also can fry the skin and serve it like potato chips, which goes well with mayonnaise, or keep it simple and roast the fish whole.
Citations
https://www.striperspace.com/bluefish.html